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Oconee County Council approves budget transfers to cover quarry, detention center, roads and tax-sale costs
Summary
At a June 22 special meeting, Oconee County Council approved budget-neutral transfers totaling $365,517 to cover operational shortfalls at the county quarry, detention center, Roads & Bridges and the Delinquent Tax Department; all motions passed unanimously, 4–0.
Oconee County Council on June 22 approved a series of budget-neutral transfers totaling $365,517 to cover unplanned operational costs across several departments.
County Administrator Stewart Jones told council the transfers were budget neutral and resulted from depleted line items and unfilled positions that left salary budgets available to reallocate for urgent needs. "These transfer requests are budget neutral," Jones said while outlining the requests.
The largest single departmental transfers were: $145,847 for the Roads & Bridges Department to cover overtime and substantial vehicle maintenance costs (including two transmission replacements and repair of a dump truck that caught fire), $144,000 to the Detention Center from unfilled Solicitor and Planning positions to cover increased food costs ($72,000) and unanticipated building and grounds repairs ($72,000), $130,000 for the county Rock Quarry to replenish operational, blasting and IT equipment line items (including $17,000 for a camera system at the crushing plant), and $44,670 to the Delinquent Tax Department to cover tax-sale postage ($22,350) and professional/title-search services ($22,320).
Council members repeatedly described the transfers as internal reallocations rather than increases to the county's overall budget. Vice Chairman Don Mize asked whether some Delinquent Tax Department costs could be offset through the tax-sale process; Administrator Jones replied that budget formation does not directly link those costs to a revenue source and that these transfers simply move available funds where needed for the fiscal year.
Each transfer was moved and seconded in turn and carried unanimously, 4'0. Thomas James made or seconded multiple motions and Glenn Hart was the most frequent mover; Matthew Durham presided as chairman. John Elliott was absent.
Council approved the motions as follows: the quarry transfer (motion by Glenn Hart, second Thomas James), the $144,000 Detention Center transfer (motion by Glenn Hart, second Don Mize), the Roads & Bridges transfer (motion by Glenn Hart, second Thomas James) and the Delinquent Tax transfer (motion by Glenn Hart, second Thomas James). The council voted 4'0 on each item.
Next steps: Council approved the transfers for implementation by county staff; no additional public hearings or external approvals were indicated in the meeting minutes.
